AV Ristorante Italiano

AV Ristorante is no more: After 3000 years at the same location AV Ristorante has closed it's doors......

A bottle of white, a bottle of red
Perhaps a bottle of rose instead
We'll get a table near the street
In our old familiar place
You and I,face to face

A bottle of red, a bottle of white
It all depends upon your appetite
I'll meet you any time you want
In our Italian Restaurant.

-William Joel

Good bye old friend!

Scalia hangs out here: So, I've never seen him, but Scalia reportedly eats here frequently. The food is decent -- not great Italian food, but definitely hearty and served in sufficient quantities. The ambiance, however, is great -- I always expect to see the spirit of Dino hanging out somewhere in the shadows by the fireplace.

Italian Probably As Authenic As You'll Get In D.C.: There's no shortage of Italian joints in D.C., but this out-of-the-way place is as authentic as I've found in the city. It's located on New York Avenue within walking distance of Chinatown and the new Convention Center.

The menu offers something for everyone, from pizza to pasta to salads, most heavy on the garlic. The service is usually very attentive and the prices are reasonable. AV's also has a large room in the back suitable for large parties.

The entrance walls are decorated with pictures of famous people--mostly politicians--who dined there. The dimly-lit dining areas feature dark walls with few large paintings or other objects hanging on them.